While the offense never quite exploded this weekend at Kentucky Proud Park, it did exactly enough to secure a perfect series sweep.
Following a phenomenal outing from Jaxon Jelkin and a grind-it-out Ben Cleaver earlier in the series, the No. 22 Wildcats turned to Nate Harris on Sunday to finish the job. Harris was lights-out, tossing six innings of one-run ball while racking up nine strikeouts to secure the 3-1 victory.
Sunday finale: Kentucky 3, St. John's 1
Kentucky struck early and often in the first three innings. Jayce Tharnish and Owen Jenkins used their speed to manufacture runs, both stealing bases to keep the St. John's defense on its heels. Caeden Cloud provided the offensive spark, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Ethan Hindle and Carson Hansen each drove in a run to provide Harris with the support he needed.
The bullpen was equally impressive. Ira Austin IV, Leighton Harris, and Burkley Bounds combined for three scoreless innings to slam the door, with Bounds earning the save.
The deekend of dominance for Kentucky baseball pitchers
The headline of this series wasn't the hitting, it was the arms. Over three games against the Red Storm, Kentucky’s pitching staff was nearly untouchable. The Cats won 3-1, 3-0, and 3-1 again.
In total, the Wildcats allowed just two runs over 27 innings. That level of efficiency has pushed Kentucky to a 9-2 record as they head into a mid-week home-and-home series.
How to Watch: Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky
The Cats head to Richmond on Tuesday before returning to Lexington on Wednesday. Here is how you can follow the action:
- Tuesday, March 3 (at EKU): 5:00 PM ET | Streaming: ESPN+ (Subscription Required)
- Wednesday, March 4 (vs. EKU): 4:00 PM ET | Streaming: SEC Network+ (Available via the ESPN App with a cable/streaming provider login that includes SEC Network)
- Radio: Both games will be available via the UK Sports Radio Network.